Apparatus for liquefying gases



March 26 1940. P. HADAMOVSKY 2,194,654

APPARATUS FOR LIQUEFYING GASES Filed Feb. 19, 1958 I 71 vena/".-

ug www? i @Wwf Patented Mar'. zo', 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT oi-Flcs i Application February 19, 1938, Serial No. 191,375

, In Germany-,May 11, ,1936

s claim (ci. sa- 122) My invention relates to an apparatus for liquefying gases.

It is an object of my invention to so design an apparatus of this type that, under otherwise equal conditions, its size is considerably reduced.

To this end, in combination with a vessel, and a heat-transmitting fluid in the vessel, vI arrange means for cooling the heat-transmitting iiuid in the vessel, and a partition wall by which the vessel is subdivided into two compartments. The partition wall comprises ducts for the passage of the gas which is to be liqueiied and denes at least two apertures arrangedat different levels in the partition wall, for connecting the two compartments.

'I'his liqueer-partition wall, or condenser, replaces the usual condenser coils, with their large diameter, and occupies a minimum space. In addition, it provides for an efficient circulation of the heat-transmitting iluid in the two compartments of the vessel.

It is another object of my invention to reduce still further the overall size of my apparatus.

To this end, in combination with the means aforesaid, I provide at least one container in the vessel for storing the liquefled gas.

I am aware that this has `already been proposed, but not in combination with the liqueiierpartition wall, so that the condenser coils remained and not only occupied space but also interfered with the circulation o f the heattransmitting uid, which the liqueiier-partition wall according to my invention does not do.

Further objects andfeatur'es 'of my invention will appear from the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawing, showing by way of example and schematically one embodiment of the invention, viz- Figure 1 is a schematic cross section, on line I--I in Figure 3, through a cooling and Iiqueiying plant having the invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a schematic plan view, and Figure 3 a schematic longitudinal "section, on line II--II in Fig. 1.

Figures 4, 5, 6, 'I and 8 are cross sections of various forms of ducts in the liqueiler-partition wall, or condenser.

Similarr numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views and figures.

Referring'now to the drawing in greater detail, it will be seen in Fig. 3 that two containers 2 and 3 for storing the liqueiied gas are arranged in a vessel I besides coils I, with an inlet 5 and an outlet 6 for the cooling fluid. 1 Is the liqueiier-partition wall referred to, which, as shown in rFigure 1, subdivides the vessel I into a larger compartment at the left in which the cooler coils I and the containers 2 and 3 are positioned, and a smaller compartment at the right. 5 'Ihe partition comprises a set of horizontal pipes 9 connected by strips I0, as illustrated in Figure 4, an inflow header I8 and an outiiow header Iso, and in this manner it is formed as a condenser for the gas to be liquefied, whereby it is 10 rendered possible to reduce, the size of the vessel I compared to ordinary plants of this kind, with their large condenser coils, and to accommodate the containers 2 and 3. Due to this reduction in the volume of the vessel I, the amount l5 of heat-transmitting fluid, normally salt-water or brine 9 which has to be circulated in the vessel I is reduced considerably.

Modiiied constructions of the partition wall 1 are represented in Figures 5 to 8. According to 20 Figure 5 the tubes I3 are `directly connected, for example, by welding while Figure 6 indicates a form in which corrugated sheets II are ccnnected to form ducts of rhomboid cross section.

According to Figure "I tubes of a square cross section I2 are connected with each other by plates Il. It will be understood that any other suitable form of partition walls may be used within the scope of my invention as will appear to one skilled in the art. For instance, according to instance it may be oval, circular orvpolygonal,

more particularly in a rectangular form as shown, and 'one or more partitions 1 in the form 45- of condensers may be provided. The liqueerpartition, or condenser, 1 may also be modified as desired, and I am not limited to the embodiment shown in Figure l, with its inlet header Ili fordistributing the gas entering (for example, from an electrolyser) at I1 over the pipes of the condenser 1 at the inlet end, and the header |80 at the outlet end.

Nor am I limited to t `e structure which will now be described. i5

In this a5- A pipe 26, with a vertical extension 32, conducts the condensate from the outlet header |80 to the container 3, and a branch pipe 26, with a vertical extension 3I, extends from the pipe 26 to the container 2. The extensions 3| and 32 are open at the top and at the bottom, so that the liquefied gas, for'instance, chlorine, is delivered to the base of each container while noncondensed gaseous admixtures to the chlorine escape at the top of each extension and are abducted by vent pipes 2'I and 23. Overflow pipes 33 and 34 are arranged in the respective containers, and connected below the bottom of the vessel I by a pipe 38. The overow pipes 33 and 34 open, respectively, into storage tanks 29 and 30 arranged just below the containers so that the liquefied chlorine is not heated by the ambient air while flowing to the tanks. Each tank has a cooling jacket 39, as shown for the tank 29, which is connected to the compartments at the left and at the right oi' the condenser I in the vessel -I by pipes and 4I, respectively. Syphons 35 and 36 are provided in the respective storage tanks, for delivery to a tank truck 31.

'I'he condenser 'I is supported in the vessel I by a, frame having vertical members I9 and 2|, and horizontal members 20 and 22. The frame members are strips o1' sheet metal and are soldered or welded, or otherwise connected, to the headers |81 and Io, and to the topmost and the lowermost pipe of the condenser 1, respectively, on the one hand, and to the inner side of the vessel I on the other hand.

For circulating the liquid in the two compartments, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1, at least one aperture is provided above and below the condenser 1. In the example illustrated, an aperture, 23 is made in the lower horizontal frame member, and an aperture 24 is made in the upper horizontal frame member 22,.the two apertures being arranged near opposite ends of the respective members. Impellers may be inserted in the apertures, and be driven by any suitable means, not shown, for positive circulation of the fluid 8.

The operation of the plant is as follows: 'Ihe cooling medium. Such as for example ammonia, enters into the coils 4 at 5 and after passage through the same ows oi at 6. It is clear that the brine 8 will be cooler in the left hand compartment of the vessel in Figure 1 than in the right hand compartment so that it tends to rise in the right and to fall in the left hand compartment of the vessel I which compartments communicate with each other through the apertures 23 and 24. The brine is caused to circulate in the vessel I in a counter-clockwise direction. Thus an eillcient exchange of heat will take place between the condenser 'I and the coils 4 and the gas in the condenser tubes which are preferably slightly inclined will be condensed and iiow through the outow header |80 and connecting pipes 24, 25, 26 into the containers 2 and 3 which dueto their arrangement in the vessel I are always immersed in the cold brine so that any heating and evaporation of liqueed chlorine is practically avoided. The chlorine level rises very slowly in the containers and the liquid is allowed to iiow oiI in the same measure through the pipes 33 and 34 the upper ends of which determine the level of the liquid in the containers.

The discharge openings or pipes 33 and 34 may be laterally arranged, if desired. 'Ihe chlorine now flows by gravity through vand 3.

'I'he storage tanks 29 and 30, require good heat insulation, as the condensate often is in the tanks 29 and 30 for several days. In order to prevent re-evaporation of the condensate, the tanks 29 and 30 are preferably cooled by the cold brine, by the double walls 39 which are connected with the vessel I by the pipes 40 and 4I and the jackets 39 are supplied with circulating brine by one or more pumps as at 42.

My apparatus, in addition to its smallness, has

the advantage that the resistance to the circulation of the heat-transmitting iiuid in the vessel is much reduced as compared with the usual condenser coils, so that the iiuid is freely circulated, whereby the cooling effect is increased and a higher demand of cooling action can be ,easily met with. In view of the small amount of brine which is required even for a large output and the low weight of liquefying apparatus following therefrom, the apparatus can be mounted, for instance, in the second iioor of a building. In this case, the liquid chlorine can be delivered to the storage tanks and from the storage tanks into the tank trucks by gravity.

While I have herein shown and described certain preferred embodiments of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not conne myself to all the precise details herein set forth by way of illustration, as modification and variation may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for liquefying gases, in combination a vessel, a heat-transmitting fluid in said vessel, means in said vessel for cooling said heat-transmitting fiuid, at least one container for storing the liquefied gas, arranged in the said vessel so as to be cooled by said heattransmitting fluid and a partition wall by which saidl vessel is divided into two compartments which are connected by at least two apertures in said partition wall, said partition wall comprising ducts for passage of the gas which is to be liquefied.

2. In an apparatus for liquefying gases, in combination a vessel, a heat-transmitting iiuid in said vessel, means in said vessel for cooling said heat-transmitting uid, at least onecontainer for storing the liquefied gas, arranged in the said vessel so as to be cooled by said heattransmitting fluid, a partition wall by which said vessel is divided into two compartments which are connected by at least two apertures i-n said partition Wall that comprises ducts for passage of the gas to be treated and a pipe connection between said ducts and said container which is substantially longer than the distance between said ducts and said container.

3. In an apparatus for liquefying gases, in combination a vessel, a heat-transmitting iiuid in said vessel, means in said vessel for cooling said heat-transmitting uid and a partition wall by arcades a comprising a plurality of tubes for the passage v of the gas which is to be liqueed and means for connecting said tubes to form a substantially impermeable partition wall.

4. In an apparatus for iiquefying gases, in combination a vessel, a heat-transmitting fluid in said vessel, means in said vessel for cooling said Iheat-transmitting fluid and a partition wall by which said vessel is divided into two compartments which are connected by at least two apertures in said partition wall, said partition wall comprising a plurality of tubular channels for the passage of the gas which is to be liqueiied and sheet metal plates connecting said tubes to form a substantially impermeable partition wall.-

5. In an apparatus for liquefying gases, in combination a vessel, a heat-transmitting fluid in said vessel, means in said vessel for cooling said heat-transmitting uid and a partition wall by which said vessel is divided into two compartments which are connected by at least two apertures in said partition wail, said partition Wall comprising at least two plates and strips between these plates for forming tubular channels for the passage of the gas which is tobe liquefied.

6. In an apparatus for liquefying gas, in combination a vessel, a heat-transmitting fluid in said vessel, means in said vessel for cooling said heat-transmitting fluid, at least one container for storing the liquefied gas, arranged in the said vessel so as to be cooled by said heat-transmitting iluid, a partition wall by which said vessel is divided into two compartments which are connected by .at least-two apertures in said partition wall that comprises ducts for passage of the gasLt be treated and a pipe connection between said ducts and said container comprising a tube extending nearly to the bottom of said container and projecting with its open upper end above the level oi the liquid in the storage container. V

7. In an apparatus for liquefying chlorine gas, in combination a vessel, a heat-transmitting iiuid in said vessel, means in said vessel-rior cooling said lheat-transmitting fluid, at least one containerfor storing the liquefied gas, arranged in the said vessel so as to be cooled by said heattransmitting fluid, apartition wall by which said vessel is divided into two compartments which are connected by at least two apertures in said partition wall that comprises ducts for passage of the gas to be treated, and a pipe connection between said ducts and said container whichis substantially longer than the distance between said ducts and said container.

8. In an apparatus for liquefying chlorine and gases of a similar physical nature, in combination a vessel, a heat-transmitting iiuid in said vessel, means in said vessel for cooling said heattransmitting uid, at least one container for storing the liquefied gas, arranged in the said vessel so as to be cooled by said heat-transmitting iiuid, a partition wall by which said vessel is divided -into two compartments which are connected by at least two apertures in said partition wall that comprises ducts for passage of the gas to be treated, and a pipe connection between said ducts and said container which is substantially longer than the distance between said ducts and said container.

- PAUL HADAMOVSKY. 

